How often is a defensive tackle involved in a 2-point play that makes a difference in an NFL game? On Sunday, it happened twice, and a former Coastal Alabama prep star was involved in each. For Williamson's Nick Fairley, his play kept the Detroit Lions in first place in the NFC North. For Vigor's Sen'Derrick Marks, it meant the first victory of the season for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Fairley shot the gap between Chicago Bears center Roberto Garza and left guard Matt Slauson to smother running back Matt Forte in the backfield on a 2-point conversion attempt after the Bears had scored a touchdown with 47 seconds to play. Fairley's tackle preserved the Lions' 21-19 victory. Detroit improved to 6-3 while NFC North rival Chicago fell to 5-4.

After his tackle, Fairley high-stepped 50 yards down the field in celebration.

"Excited," Fairley said in the locker room after the game. "Just made a game-changing play from the defense and the D-line. That's what we always harp on as a D-line -- let's go make a game-changing play. It was me today."

On Chicago's final touchdown drive, Fairley was penalized for roughing the passer. He tried to atone with a sack on the next play, but he really made up for it on the 2-point conversion tackle.

"I knew I had messed up," Fairley said. "I got to play smarter and not put my team in situations like that. Just knowing that I had almost cost my team by that play there, I just knew I had to go make another one. In my mindset, I was just determined to make another play, and it came, so I made it."

Fairley also was credited with four quarterback-hurries in the game.

Fairley and Marks both played at Auburn. While with the Tigers, Marks didn't get a chance to play against Alabama guard Chance Warmack, who is in his rookie season after the Tennessee Titans made him a first-round draft choice in April.

On Sunday, Marks and Warmack did knock heads when the former Vigor standout made his return to Tennessee. Marks played his first four seasons in the NFL with the Titans before signing as a free agent with the Jaguars during the offseason.

With 7:44 left in the fourth quarter, Jacksonville earned a safety when Warmack was called for holding Marks in the end zone. The two points gave the Jaguars a 22-13 lead, and they won the game 29-27.

The victory was the first of the season for Jacksonville after eight losses.

"It's something we can build off of," Marks said.

The Carolina Panthers won their fifth game in a row, improving to 6-3 with a 10-9 road win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Former Murphy standout Captain Munnerlyn and former Foley standout Robert Lester are part of the Carolina defense - Munnerlyn as a starting cornerback and Lester as a reserve safety. Munnerlyn had three tackles and knocked down a pass against San Francisco. Lester, who played at Alabama, did not record any stats on Sunday.

Former Baldwin County and Alabama standout Wallace Gilberry had a tackle as a reserve defensive end for Cincinnati on Sunday, but the Bengals lost to the Baltimore Ravens 20-17 in overtime. Cincinnati remains in first place in the AFC North with a 6-4 record.

For the second time this season, D.J. Fluker had to switch from right offensive tackle to left offensive tackle during a San Diego Chargers game. When former Auburn standout King Dunlap was hurt against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, the Chargers juggled their personnel up front. They couldn't derail the Denver Broncos, who took a 28-20 victory in San Diego. The Chargers dropped to 4-5.

The Broncos, who are 8-1, play the NFL's only undefeated team, the Kansas City Chiefs, next week. The Chiefs have two former prep stars from southwest Alabama - starting center Rodney Hudson of B.C. Rain and reserve linebacker Nico Johnson of Andalusia. Johnson is a rookie out of Alabama.

The Chiefs had an open date this week, as did the New York Jets. Former Vigor standout Ellis Lankster is a Jet.

Former St. Paul's star Mark Barron, who played at Alabama, will be in action on Monday night. He'll be at strong safety for Tampa Bay when the Buccaneers host the Miami Dolphins at 7:40 p.m. Monday. The game will be televised by ESPN.